By Austin Meek, Chris Vannini and Bruce Feldman
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan and Kyle Whittingham have agreed to a five-year deal to make him the Wolverines’ subsequent head coach, a supply near the hiring course of mentioned.
Whittingham, 66, stepped down Dec. 12 after 21 seasons at Utah however made it identified that he wasn’t performed teaching. Michigan, which fired Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10, was searching for a coach who may stabilize this system. In Whittingham, who was 177-88 at Utah with eight seasons of 10 wins or extra, the Wolverines discovered somebody who may match the half. ESPN first reported the search was focusing on Whittingham.
A supply near the hiring course of mentioned the plan is for Whittingham to inform his Utah staff in individual in Las Vegas on Friday, the place it’s getting ready for subsequent week’s Las Vegas Bowl. He’ll then journey to Orlando, Fla., on Saturday to fulfill along with his new Michigan staff because it preps for the Citrus Bowl.
The second-longest-tenured coach within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision earlier than he stepped down, Whittingham led Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022. The Utes slipped to 5-7 in 2024, their first shedding season in additional than a decade, however rebounded with a 10-2 season in 2025. Whittingham performed at BYU, joined Utah’s employees in 1994 and was promoted to go coach in 2005 after the departure of City Meyer.
At Michigan, he will probably be tasked with cleansing up a program that interim coach Biff Poggi described as a “malfunctioning group.” Moore was fired Dec. 10 for participating in an inappropriate relationship with a feminine employees member and arrested later that night time after allegedly confronting the staffer at her house. He faces prices of third-degree dwelling invasion, stalking and breaking and coming into.
Michigan additionally ran afoul of NCAA guidelines quite a few instances lately and faces an NCAA effective that would surpass $30 million as punishment for operating an impermissible sign-stealing operation. At Utah, Whittingham was identified for operating a troublesome, disciplined program with minimal off-field drama. Whittingham additionally has no earlier ties to Michigan, which represents a clear break from the Jim Harbaugh period. His groups are identified for hard-nosed protection and robust play within the trenches, which aligns with Michigan’s current ethos.
Utah made huge strides on offense in 2025 below first-year coordinator Jason Beck, ending sixth within the FBS at 478.6 yards per recreation after ending one hundred and fifteenth the yr earlier than. The Utes led all FBS groups at 6.11 yards per rush however ranked 113th in run protection, permitting 182.3 yards per recreation.
Recruiting will probably be one query for Whittingham. Since Utah’s transfer to the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes have signed just one recruiting class that ranked within the prime 20 of the 247Sports Composite rankings. Utah’s 2023 class completed at No. 19, however most of Whittingham’s different lessons ranked within the 30s or 40s.
At Michigan, Whittingham is anticipated to have a bigger wage pool for his assistant coaches and extra recruiting and NIL assets than he had at Utah. He’ll be paired with a brand new defensive coordinator, as Morgan Scalley, his longtime DC at Utah, is the Utes’ new head coach.
Whittingham inherits a proficient roster that features quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 prospect within the Class of 2025. Retaining that roster collectively could possibly be a problem. Late in his run at Utah, Whittingham acknowledged the ways in which NIL and the switch portal had made it tougher to keep up the regular identification that outlined this system for many of his tenure.
“It’s always in flux and I don’t wish to say it’s such as you’re hiring mercenaries yearly, nevertheless it’s a state of affairs the place, once more, you bought to gather as a lot expertise as rapidly as you may after which hope it gels and comes collectively and also you get outcomes,” Whittingham mentioned final yr.
When Whittingham stepped down at Utah, he mentioned he wasn’t positive what he would do subsequent, however that “whenever you’ve received teaching in your blood, it simply doesn’t go away.”
“It’s stepping down, step away, reevaluate issues and see the place we’re at. I’m a free agent. I’m within the switch portal,” he mentioned. “Like I mentioned, I’m at peace. I didn’t wish to be that man that overstayed his welcome and other people simply say, ‘Hey, when’s this man gonna go away?’ That was not my intention, ever. I hope I didn’t try this. I’m positive with some individuals I did try this, however to me, the timing is correct.”
Different candidates included Washington coach Jedd Fisch and Poggi, who made his pitch publicly whereas serving as interim coach the final two weeks. A supply mentioned Michigan by no means spoke to Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, who had been rumored to be a candidate. Inexperienced Bay Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stevavich, a former UM participant, was additionally not a candidate.
Michigan completed 9-3 this season and was 17-8 in two seasons with Moore as head coach. The Wolverines will face Texas within the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.
